Moeaki and the NFL

I talked with Wes Bunting, of the National Football Post. He's their college scouting expert and writes "The Scouting Department."

The subject was Iowa tight end Tony Moeaki and NFL-ness.

Yes, the injury history is there. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said earlier this week the league has to acknowledge it. Where they go with it depends on needs and how much they might want Moeaki.

Here's some of what Wes had to say.

“Talented kid, but he's got to stay on the field."

“He's a coordinated athlete, you can see that. He's not a real burner, but he's got good short-area quickness, body control and is a natural pass catcher. When he has the ball in his hands, he knows what to do with it. We all saw that against Michigan this week.”

Bunting actually sees Moeaki as more of a TE/H-back/FB hybrid. He lists him No. 8 on his list of senior hybrids. (Link here.)

Factoring in injury history, Bunting sees Moeaki as a sixth- or seventh-round pick.

“He's someone who's talented and has great tape (video) when he's actually on the field. He'll have a chance to make a roster, if he can stay healthy.”

On Moeaki's blocking: "That's what you're going to get from Iowa. There's no way you're going to play for Ferentz if you can't block. You've seen so many tight ends from Iowa. They always get tight ends in the NFL who know how to block a the point of attack. That's why I think Moeaki will find a way to get on the field. He can do all the little things. He's not an on-the-line, hands-on-the-ground tight end, not consistently, at the next level, I don't think. He's a guy you can move around as an H-back type because he can do so much, catch the ball and block in the pass and running game."

While I had him on the phone, I decided to ask Wes if Bryan Bulaga's thyroid illness might've affected what seems to be a train that's headed to the NFL possibly, maybe, you never know at the end of this season (really, don't freak out, just spitballing here).

In short, no. Bunting already had Bulaga No. 5 on his "Super 30" list of NFL prospects.

"He's not playing to the level now that he was playing to at the end of last year," Bunting said. "He was absolutely dominant last year. You couldn't get anywhere close. The Aaron Maybin tape is one of the things that stuck out to me. He blows him off the ball and can handle him off the edge."

Bunting said UM's Brandon Graham was a different DE, better at leverage and thicker than the Maybin types.

"Strength isn't a concern with Bulaga, to me, but it looked like he struggled holding the point of attack," Bunting said. "It think that's just being out a couple weeks. I don't know if he's lifted. He might be feeling a little weak or fatigued or something like that. I think once he gets his legs under him, he'll be OK and we'll see some good, good tape on him at the level he was at last year before the end of this season."

Bunting said there aren't a lot of tackles in this draft and Bulaga would likely have a high, high spot.

"He's definitely, in my opinion, still the best," Bunting said.